FIFA president Sepp Blatter calls for 'time penalty' for players guilty of play-acting during games

Revolutionary: Blatter wants to see a 'time penalty' for players guilty of diving (Image: Getty)

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for players who dive to be given a 'time penalty' sanction that would see them leave the pitch.

The head of the world governing body used his column on the organisation's official website to criticise players who are guilty of play-acting and proposed an unusual method of trying to eradicate the behaviour.

The 77-year-old said : "I find it deeply irritating, when the half-dead player comes back to life as soon as they have left the pitch.

"The referee can make the player wait until the numerical disadvantage has had an effect on the game.

"In practical terms, this is a time penalty and it could cause play-actors to rethink. The touchline appears to have acquired powers of revival which even leading medical specialists cannot explain."

However, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher feels that the revolutionary idea is unlikely to come to fruition.

Instead, Gallagher called for retrospective action to be taken against offenders.

"You're going to need a very, very brave referee to say a player wasn't really injured, I'm not sure it's a real solution," Gallagher told the BBC.

"I think most people in this country would adhere to retrospective action.

"For me, I think an ex-referee, an ex-manager and an ex-member of PFA could look at video evidence and if all three agree on a dive, it's a three match ban."